Enchanted

Happily-ever-after meets happy-never-after, sort of. Enchanted is the story of a girl who lives in a magical forest and is about to marry the prince of her dreams when the stepmother of the prince intervenes and sends her hurtling down to the nether land 8212; that is us.

Now what happens when a girl like this in a voluminous white wedding gown, sewn for her by mice and rabbits, finds herself all alone in big bad New York? After a few mishaps, nothing very serious of course, she finds a real-life prince waiting to love and be loved, with a mother-less daughter who could do with some fairy tale in her life.

The fairytale sequence of Giselle8217;s Adams life in the forest amid loving animals is all in classic Disney animation, no 3-D effects to jazz it up. When she is 8220;banished8221; to New York, it is all real life.

Nominated for three Oscars for its three songs, Enchanted has some lovely music and a remarkably credible Adams. The film rests on her shoulders, on her ability to pull off the crossover between a fairy tale that she has lived all her life and the real world. She throws herself into the role enthusiastically, saying the most incredulous things with a wide-eyed innocence that drives away most doubts in your mind.

Her real-life prince is played by Patrick Dempsey Grey8217;s Anatomy. He is a divorce lawyer and a single parent, left to raise an adorable daughter alone after his wife left him. This is a match made in movie heaven.

While there is a girlfriend in the background, she has no chance once Giselle bats her lashes and flashes that smile at Robert.

Enchanted almost works except for the fact that, being a Disney animation, even what follows happily-ever-after comes heavily tinged with happily-ever-after.

There are no surprises, no imagination in the romance between Giselle and Robert. They share little except the obvious need for the film to have them in love.

Yes, we all need some fairytale in our lives. I mean, who wouldn8217;t want some helpful animals to do their dishes and mopping? But even fairy tales need evil stepmothers to stir things up.

Right now Robert marvels at Giselle8217;s other-worldliness, even the fact that she cuts up his curtains to make her dresses. You can8217;t help wondering what happens when that wears off. When reality meets this fairy tale, how happy could they be ever after?

shalini.langer expressindia.com